Reaction in golf world: Tiger, Lefty eye showdown

Friday

Aug 24, 2018 at 6:11 AMAug 24, 2018 at 7:21 AM

Newsday

PARAMUS, N.J. (TNS) — Nothing captures a professional golfer’s attention quite like the prospect of winning $10 million over four weeks, which is the appeal of the FedEx Cup playoffs that began Thursday. But the lure of winning $9 million over four hours probably ranks a close second.

On the eve of the Northern Trust, the playoff-opening tournament at Ridgewood Country Club, details emerged about the Thanksgiving weekend winner-take-all $9 million match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Organizers announced on Wednesday that it will be a pay-per-view event from Las Vegas that apparently will encourage the bluster of boxing-match buildups.

The bravado began Wednesday, when Mickelson debuted on Twitter and, among other offerings, razzed Woods for apparently swinging a left-handed club in a promotional photo for The Match. Woods, a right-handed golfer, acknowledged that was a mistake by the ad-makeup people and pointed out that he is the betting favorite.

Depending on someone’s perspective, the announcements either added intrigue or stole luster from the Northern Trust, the first leg in a four-stop playoff series that pays the overall champion $10 million. The chatter did not seem like a distraction for golfers who consider the FedEx Cup as a key to their season.

“Yeah, it can change (it) completely,” said Kevin Tway, who shot 5-under-par 66 and is tied for first with Jamie Lovemark, Vaughn Taylor and Sean O’Hair. “That’s kind of the plan, try to play as good as you can and go as far as you can.”

Many players put themselves in good position to contend this week, including 13 who are one back at 4 under. Among those are world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who admitted he had no idea where his tee shots were going yet still finished strongly, and 2018 two-time major winner Brooks Koepka, who played with Johnson (and Justin Thomas) in a group comprised of the top three players in the FedEx Cup standings.

Koepka said he has begun to take the FedEx Cup playoffs much more seriously, preparing the same way he does for major championships — right down to bringing along the same chef. “I mean, there’s a lot on my mind. I can get to world No. 1, win the FedEx Cup. It’s a big stretch, these next four weeks,” he said.

Still, it is worth asking a player what it must be like to play a $9 million match. “I don’t know,” Koepka said. “I’ve never played one, but I’d be happy to do it if anybody wants to play.”

Tommy Fleetwood of England, the runner-up in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and a playoffs rookie, was asked if he plans to watch the Mickelson-Woods match. “Depends where I am and if it’s televised where I am,” he said after having played with Woods and outplaying him, shooting 67 to the latter’s 71. “If I’m at home and it’s not on Sky (Sports), then I probably won’t go out of my way to watch it. But I wouldn’t mind being part of it.”

What will people make of the pay-per-view aspect? Woods said, “I think they can afford it. You know, how many times have we all purchased fights, whether it’s MMA or it’s boxing? We all purchase those fights.”

How about the timing, the day after a holiday in the heart of football season? “It will be difficult for us because there aren’t tournaments leading up to it,” Mickelson said after getting home from the trees on 18 to save par and a 68. “But it also brings golf in primetime when it’s not really showcased.”

Close friends Koepka and Johnson almost assuredly won’t be watching, Koepka said, because Johnson’s brother and caddie, Austin, is getting married that day.

Meanwhile, all but two of the top 125 golfers have 10 million reasons why they’re not concerned about the big match. “If you’re in the playoffs, you have a chance to get to East Lake,” Lovemark said, referring to the site of the final in Atlanta. “You’ve just got to be in it to win it.”

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